Exhibitor for caskets or coffins



W. P. SHERMAN] EXHIBITOR FOR GASKETS 0R UOFFIN3.

(No Model.)

Patented'Apr. 17, 1894.

6 "WI 'w w" x m i a R i v r wi tmeooeo l awvam m'c hizzzmmlfikezwzcwvTHE NATONAL LH'HOGRAPHNQ COMPANY, WAEHINGYON. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WVILLIAM SHERMAN, OF B UTTE, MONTANA.

EXHIBITOR FOR GASKETS OR COFIFINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 518,335, dated April17, 1894. Application filed September 12, 1893. Serial No. 485,349. (Nomodel.)

following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip tion of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same. v

This invention relates to devices for holding caskets or coffins ondoors for exhibition or other purposes, and has for its object toprovide a device of the character set forth that will securely hold thecaskets or cofiins without employing screws or any other devices whichwill make holes or openings in the said caskets or coffins.

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists of theconstruction and arrangement of the several parts as willbe more fullyhereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings? Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet, showing aportion of the doors thereof let down to display the coffin or casketand embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion ofa door and casket or coffin in position. Fig. 3 is an edge elevation ofthe clamp. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the clamp.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a cabinet of anysuitable length and height, having a series of drop doors 2 hinged attheir lower edges at a distance above the lower portion of the cabinet,so that when the said doors are letdown, they will rest in an inclinedposition Each of the said doors is provided with a leg 3 at the upperportion thereof, which may be used in lower ing or raising the door, andforms a support when the latter is lowered, as fully shown in Fig. 1. Tothe lower central portion of each door is secured one end of anadjustable arm 4 which projects beyond the door and is pro vided with ahooked end 5. Intermediate of the upper. and lower ends of each door,and located on opposite sides of the inner surface of the same, are apair of aligned catches or clamping screw-shank 9, with an outer handle10, and an inner engaginghead 11, which is secured to each innerscrew-shank by a set-screw 12. In fastening the head 11 to the end ofthe shank, a mortise and tenon .is preferably used as at 13, and thehead 11 is provided with a rubber covering 14 to prevent abrasion orinjury to the casket or coffin at the point where it catches the same.

At the bottom of caskets, or coffins, an extended -molding 15 isgenerally employed which surrounds the same, and the heads 11 areadjusted inwardly toward each other over the said moldings. Previous tothis adjustment the foot portion of .the casket or cofiin is brought tobear on the'arm land the hooked end of said arm engages the molding atthis point. that the head end of the casket or coffin will be locatedtoward the outer end of the door when the latter is lowered or'let down,and, owing to the difference, in some constructions of caskets andcoffins, in width between the head and foot portions thereof, themovement of the casket or coffin'downwardly on the door is obviated whenthe said door is in an upright position.

By means of the construction set forth, it will be seen that no holes oropenings are made in the casket or coffin in securing the same, and aconvenient means of display is provided and at the same time when notdesired to be exposed toview, the caskets and coffins may be temporarilykept under cover or stored with evident advantages.

It will be observed that'the opening in the cabinet for the doors aswell as the doors themselves, are shorter than the length of the casketor coffin shown, so that when the said doors are elevated and in closedposition, a

portion of the casket or coflin on each door is' held supported in thelower part of the cabinet thereby obviating the formation of a door ofunusual length or a similar door-opening, and this advantage isprincipally attained by the employment of the arm 4 in connection witheach door.

It is obviously apparent that many minor changes in the construction andarrangement By this arrangement it will be seen of the several partsmight be made and substituted for those shown and described, so long asthey are within the scope of the invention, without departing from thenature or spirit of the latter.

The clamping screws which hold the casket in place, will, instead ofbeing made to catch all caskets in the same place, be adjustable in aslot and groove 16, in which is mounted a head 17, supporting the saidscrew shank 9, and adjustably controlled by a set screw 18, so as tofasten just above or below the molding on caskets, in View of the factthat caskets of different manufacture have the moldings in differentplaces, i. 6. different distances from the bottom of the same. Thesupport or arm at bottom of door will also have a slot 19 and set screw20 so as to shorten or lengthen for caskets of different lengths.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In anexhibitor of the class described, the combination of a cabinet, having aseries of drop doors, an arm extending beyond the lower hinged end ofeach door and having a hooked end, and fastenings intermediate of theends of each door, adapted tobe adjusted inwardly toward each other, andsupplied with suitable buffers, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a door, of an arm secured to one end thereof,having an outer hooked free end, and a pair of fastenings locatedintermediate of the ends of said door, and comprising screw-shanks withheads on the inner opposing ends thereof,supplied with rubber coverings,the same being adapted to hold a casket or coffin for the purpose ofexhibition or display, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo snbscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM P. SHERMAN.

lVitnesses:

T. G. OMEARA, F. A. TAYLOR.

